IPL 2018: Rajneesh Gurbani called to attend trials for Mumbai Indians

Gurbani was the Player of the Match in Ranji semi-final and final for Vidarbha.

Vidarbha pacer Rajneesh Gurbani, who grabbed the eyeballs of Indian cricket fraternity with his stellar show in the Ranji Trophy season 2017-18, has been called to attend the trials for IPL franchise Mumbai Indians. The much-awaited IPL auction is scheduled to be held in Bengaluru on January 27 and 28

The 24-year-old pacer has scalped 39 wickets in the just concluded Ranji Trophy and played an instrumental role in Vidarbha’s maiden triumph. In fact, Gurbani was adjudged Man of the Match in the semi-final against Karnataka for his 12-wicket haul and in the final against Delhi for his 8-fer.

“Yes, I have been called for the trials in Mumbai. Let’s see how it goes,” Gurbani told Sportstar on Tuesday (January 2).

Earlier last month former New Zealand batsman John Wright, who is currently involved with Mumbai Indians, was seen scouting talents from the Ranji Trophy matches. The veteran coach was keenly following the quarterfinal clash between Karnataka and Mumbai.

On being asked whether it is a right strategy to identify talent for a T20 event from a first-class game, Wright clarified Ranji Trophy isn’t the only tournament from where it has been done.

“There are many other tournaments through which this is done. However, it is easier to judge a bowler than a batsman in a four-day game,” Wright had told The New Indian Express.

“I think the first Ranji game I watched this season was the one between Delhi and Maharashtra. We have a team of people doing similar stuff. Some of us have covered the tournament from the start,” he added.

Wright had also made it clear that the chief coach Mahela Jayawardene will take a final call on the players during the camps in Mumbai.

“We analyse them by making them play T20 matches. In the end head coach Mahela Jayawardene joins to make a decision,” Wright had disclosed.

Mumbai Indians are known for tapping promising talents. In 2016, the three times IPL champions had bid for Rajasthan fast bowler Nathu Singh for a whopping Rs 3.2 crore.